Peoria boy's death ruled a homicide

PEORIA — The death of an 8-year-old boy who was found inside a refrigerator in August was ruled a homicide at an inquest Thursday.

A coroner's jury deliberated more than 30 minutes before handing down the ruling in the death of Marquail Johnson, who was found Aug. 15 inside a refrigerator behind 740 S. Western Ave.

The boy was last seen by his mother about 8 p.m. Aug. 14 while playing with his cousins at a vacant lot at 810 S. Western Ave. and was reported missing to police at 10 p.m. After more than 50 police officers searched the neighborhood, the boy was found the next morning behind his aunt's house, inside an unplugged, older model refrigerator with a door that latches closed from the outside. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The jury at the Peoria County Coroner's Office heard testimony from Peoria police Detective Amanda Chalus on the pertinent findings of the investigation so far.

Chalus said it still is unclear how Johnson ended up inside the refrigerator and how long he was inside. The body was discovered by the homeowner while officers were inside of the residence conducting their second search of the home, according to Chalus.

Through interviews, investigators determined that kids in the neighborhood did not play in that house's backyard, which was surrounded by a chain-link fence and could only be accessed by the back door of the home.

The boy's body was nude when discovered, with the rest of his clothes inside the refrigerator. An autopsy performed by Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll found no physical or sexual trauma to the body, and suffocation was determined as the cause of death. Chalus said the refrigerator door was free-standing, meaning it would not shut on its own, but could be pulled shut from the inside.

No latent fingerprints could be found inside the refrigerator or on the door handle, only smudge marks unusable as evidence, according to Chalus.

Though Marquail's mother, Shinta Johnson, told police Marquail was autistic, investigators could not confirm that diagnosis nor find any prescriptions for autism medication, according to testimony from Chalus.

Also, Shinta Johnson had told police she was working during the day before coming home at 3 p.m. Aug. 14, but investigators found she had not worked that day after contacting her place of employment, said Chalus.

Johnson's family was not present for the inquest.

Marquail's 6-year-old cousin told Peoria police a man who may have been seen with Marquail before he disappeared was as an "older" white male, 5 feet, 8 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches tall, wearing a yellow shirt and blue pants. When detectives interviewed the cousin, he said the man appeared to be the father of a girl who went to his school, but that man was later ruled out as a suspect, according to Chalus.

The investigation into Johnson's death continues. The outcome of the inquest does not affect the investigation, only the prosecution if a suspect is arrested and brought to trial.

Thomas Bruch can be reached at 686-3188 or tbruch@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @ThomasBruch.